BLN DISABILITY GLOSSARY OF COMMON TERMS

A

Accessible: Easy to approach, enter, operate, participate in, or use safely, independently and with dignity by a person with a disability (i.e., site, facility, work environment, service or program).

Active Range of Motion: Movement of body parts, independently, through an arc.

Activities of Daily Living (ADL): Include the following: grooming, oral hygiene, bathing, toilet hygiene, dressing, feeding/eating, medication routine, socialization, functional communication, functional mobility, sexual expression and sleep.

Acute: Intense and of short duration, usually of said disease.  Marked by sudden onset, sharp rise, demanding urgent attention.

Adaptive Equipment: Constructed devices or additions to equipment that better enhances function while taking into consideration physical abilities, energy expenditures, comfort, resources, time expenditure, and space.

Adaptive Fit: The compatibility between the demands of a task or setting and a persons’ needs and abilities.

ADD: See “Attention Deficit Disorder” or “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” (ADHD).

ADHD: See “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” (ADHD).

*Advocate: 1) Anyone who speaks or acts on behalf of oneself, another person, or a cause.  2) A person or institution that will serve as a friend and look out for the best interests of the disabled person.  The advocate is not court appointed. 

AFDC: Aid to Families with Dependent Children. Title IV-A of the Social assistance program, which provides monies for low-income families incapacitated or unemployed. 

Affirmative Action: Proactive action to accomplish the purposes of a program which is designed to increase the employment opportunities of certain groups, which may involve goals, timetables, or specifically outlined steps to be undertaken to assure that objectives are reached. The Americans with Disabilities Act does not mandate affirmative action for persons with disabilities, but does require that covered entities ensure nondiscrimination. Title 5, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act does require that affirmative action be taken in employment of persons with disabilities by Federal contractors.

Alliance for the Mentally Ill (AMI): See “National Alliance for the Mentally Ill” (NAMI).

Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR): A variety of procedures for the resolution of disputes. Each ADR procedure is a fair and efficient alternative to court adjudication that must be entered into voluntarily by all parties. Some of the more common ADR procedures include arbitration, mediation, and conciliation. ADR is encouraged under the Americans with Disabilities Act to resolve conflicts.

American Sign Language (ASL):  A visual language (hand gestures) for persons who are deaf or hearing impaired that contains it’s own vocabulary, grammar, idioms, and syntax.  It’s vocabulary and grammar differs from the English language.  ASL is the most common form of sign language used in the United States.  Also referred to as “sign language”.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): A comprehensive civil rights law, which makes it unlawful to discriminate in private sector employment against a qualified individual with a disability. The ADA also outlaws discrimination against individuals with disabilities in state and local government services, employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunication. The law was enacted in July 1990. The private sector employment provisions (Title I) became effective for employers with 25 or more employees on July 26, 1992, and on July 26, 1994, for employers of 15 or more employees. The public sector employment provisions (Title II) became effective on January 26, 1992)

Amputations: The absence of a limb, occurring either in utero (non developmental related) or after birth.

Anxiety Disorders: Conditions that are distinguished by excessive fears or anxieties about persons, places, or events.  Persons with anxiety disorders display exaggerated or inappropriate responses to their perception of internal or external dangers.

Assessment: A collecting and bringing together of information about a individuals learning needs, which may include social, psychological, and educational evaluations used to determine assignment to specific programs or services; a process using observation, testing, and test analysis to determine an individual’s strengths and weaknesses to plan, for example, his or her educational needs/services.  Also referred to in some instances as “evaluation”. 

Assistive Device:  Any item whether acquired commercially, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a person with a developmental disability.  Examples would include visual altering systems for a person with a hearing impairment, or a Braille printer for a person who is blind.

Assistive Technology: The application of technological, engineered, methodology, or scientific principles to meet the needs of, and/or address the barriers confronted by persons with developmental disabilities in areas including education, employment, supported employment, transportation, independent living, and other community living arrangements.  This term includes assistive technology devices and assistive technology services.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD):  A condition characterized by when a person is easily distracted and has difficulty staying focused on an individual activity (for any period of time).  May also be called ADHD.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):  A condition in which an individual exhibits signs of developmentally inappropriate hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention.  These characteristics are usually present before the age of 7.  May also be called ADD.

Augmentative Communication:  Any type of designed support, enhancement, or supplement in the communication of individuals who are not independent verbal communicators in all situations.

Auxiliary Aids and Services: Devices or services that accommodate a functional limitation of a person with a communication-related disability. The term includes qualified interpreters and communication devices for persons who are deaf or persons who are hard of hearing; qualified readers, taped texts, Braille or other devices for persons with visual impairments; adaptive equipment for persons with other communication disabilities; or similar services and actions.

B

Bilateral:  Affecting both sides of the body.  Example: having a hearing impairment in both ears.

Braille:  A system of writing used by many people who are blind.  It involves using combinations of six raised dots punched into paper, which can then be read with the fingertips.

C

CAP:  See “Client Assistance Program” or “CAP”.

Case Management:  1) A service that assists individuals in obtaining and coordinating community resources such as income assistance, education, housing, medical care, treatment, vocational preparation, and recreation.  2) The planning, implementation, and monitoring of an individuals’ program from diagnosis through treatment. 

Center-Based Services:  Where you and the participant travel to a central location.  All instructors, consultants, and counselors are located at the center and work with participants individually and in small groups.

Client Assistance Program (CAP):  The Client Assistance Program is a program through the Minnesota Department of Economic Security, which can provide assistance to any individual with a disability who is an applicant or client of any program authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.  They provide assistance by: 1) Advising individuals of their rights under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, 2) Explaining rehabilitation services upon request, 3) Helping individuals in the appeals process, and/or 4) Referring individuals to other agencies. 

Closed Caption:  A system by which people with hearing disorders are provided translated dialogue from television programs by using subtitles.  Also called the “Line 21 System” because the subtitles are inserted into the blank line 21 of the picture. 

Cognitive:  A term that describes the process people use for remembering, reasoning, understanding, problem solving, evaluating, and judgment.  Cognition is all aspects of perceiving, thinking and remembering (or the process of learning). 

Communication:  A process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of signs, behavior, or symbols.  Exchange of information.

Community Supports:  Providing activities, services, supports, and other assistance to persons with disabilities, and the families and communities of such persons, which are designed to: 1) Assist neighborhoods and communities to be more responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities and their families.  2) Develop local networks, which can provide informal support.  3) Make communities accessible and enable communities to offer their resources and opportunities to persons with disabilities and their families.  Community supports include: community education, personal assistance services, modifications to vehicles and homes, support at work, and transportation.

Compulsive Personality Disorder:  Restricted ability to express warm and tender emotions; preoccupation with rules, order, organization, efficiency and detail; excessive devotion to work and productivity to the exclusion of pleasure; indecisiveness.

Conservatorship/Guardianship:  A court-ordered mandate by which an individual or institution is appointed to 1) manage the estate of the person judged incapable (not necessarily incompetent) of caring for his/her own affairs; and/or 2) to be responsible for the care and decisions made on behalf of a person when that individual again, is determined to be unable to care for herself/himself.  In some states a guardian assists the person and the conservator cares for the estate of the person.

Consultant:  A specialist whose expertise is in a specific area (examples: ADA, vision impairments/blindness, or hearing impairments/deafness etc.) who assists a team in planning the programs and services for individuals with disabilities.  A consultant also serves as a support person for the family or referral source. 

Custom Contoured (or Molded) Seating:  The use of custom (individualized) forming of a seating system around a person’s body contours, often while applying specific support to correct or improve postural problems.  Sometimes referred to as Custom Seating Systems. 

D

Day Treatment:  Community-based, non-residential services.  It is the most intensive program available that still allows the person to remain in the home.

Deaf: 1) A term used to categorize individuals who have hearing losses greater than 75 to 80dB, have vision as their primary input, and cannot understand speech through the ear even with the use of hearing aids.  The sense of hearing for a person who is deaf is nonfunctional for the ordinary purposes of life.

Deaf-Blind:  A term used to describe a person who has a substantial degree of loss of both sight and hearing which combined may result in functional difficulties in the areas of development, education, vocation and/or independent living.  One of the losses may be progressive, which in combination with the other sensory loss, may lead to severe dual sensory impairments.

Developmental Disability:

Disability:  function in educational and social settings within the “normal” rate of growth and development. 

Disabled:  1) One who has a disability.  2) As defined in eligibility for the SSI program for a person 18 years or older, having a physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments which prevents him/her from working and is expected to last at least 12 months or to result in death.   

Disclosure:  1) To allow access to or the release, transfer, or other communication of records or the personally identifiable information contained in those records to a specific party, by any means, including oral, written, or electronic.  2) Disclosure of disability or limitation info.

Discretionary:  Left to one’s judgment, regulated by one’s own judgment and choice.

Discrimination:  1) Any action which limits or denies a person or a group of persons opportunities privileges, roles or rewards on the basis of their sex, age, race, handicap, national origin, sexual orientation, and/or religious preference. 

Dislocated Worker (DW): Those who have been permanently laid off as part of other permanent reductions in an employer’s workforce.

Dislocated Worker Program (DWP):  Services provided to people who are dislocated workers. 

Disorder:  1) A disturbance in a person’s normal functioning; possibly mental, physical or psychological.  2) Abnormal function.

Displacement:  A defense mechanism in which a person generalizes or redirects a feeling, emotion or response from the original object to one that is usually less threatening (unconsciously). 

E

Earned Income:  One type of income considered when determining eligibility for the SSI or SSDI program.  It includes wages, net earnings from self-employment, and income received from sheltered workshops.

Eligibility: 1) The state of being eligible: fit to be chosen; legally or normal qualified; suitable; desirable.  2) A defining of specific requirements, applied to the applicant.

Employment Skills: Skills in the area of choosing a career, getting and keeping a job, making job and career changes, and career advancement.

Employment activities: Priority area activities that will increase the independence, productivity, or integration of a person with developmental in work settings.

English as a Second Language (ESL):  Classes or support programs for students whose native language is not English.

    Essential Job Functions: 1) The necessary/required activities relating to a specific job description. 2) The fundamental job duties of the job that the individual with a disability holds or desires. The term essential function does not include marginal functions of the position.

Ethnicity: Being ethnic: distinguishing one of any of the basic groups of mankind, as noted by customs, characteristics, language, etc.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Nondiscrimination in hiring, firing, compensation, promotion, recruitment, training, and other terms and conditions of employment regardless of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin or disability.

Expressive language disability/disorders: 1) A learning disability in which an individual has difficulty expressing oneself through speech. 2) Difficulties in language production.

F

Fine motor: The use of small muscle groups for controlled movements, particularly in object manipulation. Such as movements our hands make, how we hold onto things. Finger dexterity, etc.

Finger spelling: Use of a manual alphabet (26 hand shapes and positions that represent the 26 letters of the written alphabet) to spell words. It is a form of sign language commonly used in both ASL and Signed English systems.  This may be used for proper names and other terms for which there are no generally accepted signs.

Fluency: The flow of an individuals speech; dysfluency is also known as stuttering.

Formal thought disorder: A disturbance in the formulation of thought as distinguished from the content. The boundaries of the concept are not clear and there is no consensus as to which disturbances in speech or thought are included.

Functional: Represents a skill that is necessary for success in daily functioning and being able to perform tasks of daily living, now or in the future.

Functional activities: 1) Affecting the function but not the structure. 2) Activities used in treatment that relate to a specific function that has been lost and is being relearned or to a function that is being learned for the first time.

Functional limitation: The SIPP asked respondents about their ability to perform the following specific sensory and physical activities:

1. Seeing (ordinary newspaper print) (with glasses or contacts if normally used),
2. Hearing (normal conversation) (using aid if normally used),
3. Having speech understood,
4. Lifting or carrying (10 lbs.),
5. Walking (a quarter of a mile without resting),
6. Climbing (a flight of stairs without resting).

Difficulty in performing any of these types of activities is classified as a functional limitation.

G

Gifted, creative, and talented: A term used for individuals with extraordinary abilities in one or more areas and capable of superior performance.

H

Handicap: 1) A limitation imposed on an individual by the environment (and the person’s capacity to cope with that limitation). 2) A term used to refer to any disability (physical, mental or emotional), which limits or affects a person’s development (to full potential). 3. For legal or eligibility purposes, “handicapped” may be defined as: A “special population: of persona who have been evaluated as having mental retardation, being hard of hearing, deaf, speech or language impairments, visual impairments, serious emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairments, other health impairments, or specific learning disabilities; who, because of there handicapping condition, require special education and related services (if a child) provided through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), in order to succeed in a regular educational program. If an Adult, other services or assistance may be available through a variety of other agencies. See also “disability.”

Hearing Impaired: Any individual who has a hearing loss that requires special assistance (such as a hearing aid) or educational adaptations. This term includes individuals who are hard-of-hearing and/or deaf.

Hearing impairment: Having a reduction in hearing that affects a person’s educational, academic, and/or social performance. Hearing losses are classified by hearing sensitivity at various frequencies within the audible range. These frequencies are termed “decibels” or “dB”. An individual is considered to have a normal hearing if the hearing threshold is above the 25 dB range. Hearing losses are categorized as follows: Mild- hearing within the 25 to 40 dB range; Moderate- within 40 to 55 dB range; Moderately Severe- within the 55 and 70 dB range; Severe- within the 70 to 90 dB range; and profound or deafness- exceeding 90 dB range. See also “hearing impaired”.

I

Impairment: Something that someone lacks.  Examples: mental, visual, hearing, or weakness in an arm. An impairment can either be acquired during the individuals’ lifetime, or congenital (occurs at birth).

Individual with a Disability (ADA Definition):  A individual who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of their major life activities; has a record of such impairment; or who is regarded as having such an impairment.

In-Kind Contributions: A fair value estimate of facilities, overhead, personnel, volunteer time, and equipment “donated” or “shared” between agencies to show collaboration.  This is generally included when determining budgets for grant applications to show collaboration among 2 or more agencies or projects.

Individual Supports: Services, supports, and other assistance that enable individuals with disabilities to be independent, productive, and integrated into their communities, and that are designed to: (A) enable the person to control his or her environment, permitting the most independent life possible, (B) prevent placement into a more restrictive living arrangement than is necessary, and (C) enable the person to live, learn, work and enjoy life in the community.  Individual supports included personal assistance services, assistive technology, vehicular and home modifications, support at work, and transportation (possibly to their place of employment).

Intervention: Action taken to correct, assist with, or prevent identified or potential medical problems.

J

Job Coach: A person hired by the placement agency or provided through the employer to furnish particular on-site training to assist an employee with a disability in learning and performing a job and adjusting to the work environment.

Job Coaching: On the job training provided to an employee by a job coach trained in the specific job.

Job preparatory programs: Job preparatory instruction in the capabilities necessary for effective entry into an occupation, including cooperative education, work experience, and job entry programs which coordinate directed study and on-the-job training.

K

L

Language: The content (word meaning, word order, articulation, etc.) of what a person says and understands.

Learning disability (LD): A disability in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using language, spoken or written, which may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. The term includes, but is not limited to conditions such as perceptual handicaps, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. The term does not include individuals who have learning problems which are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor handicaps; mental retardation; emotional disturbance; or environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantages.

Lip reading: The ability to watch another person’s lips form words and decipher them.

Low Vision: A term used to describe individuals with visual impairments.  It refers to a severe visual impairment, not necessarily limited to distance vision.  Low vision applies to all individuals with sight who are unable to read the newspaper at a normal viewing distance, even with the aid of eyeglasses or contact lenses. They use a combination of vision and other senses to learn, although they may require adaptations in lighting or the size of print, and sometimes, Braille.

M

Major Life Activity: Basic activities that the average person in the general population can perform with little or no difficulty.  These include caring for one-self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working.

Mentoring: Mentoring is an educational process where the mentor serves as a role model, trusted counselor or teacher who provides opportunities for professional development, growth and support to individuals in career planning or employment settings. Individuals receive information, encouragement and advice as they plan their careers.

MFIP: Minnesota Family Investment Program: a program designed to simplify administration of the public assistance system in Minnesota. The focus is to provide resources more effectively and efficiently and includes consolidating and to help promote recipient’s transition to self-sufficiency. 

N

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI): An organization of mentally ill persons, their families and friends.

Natural Supports: Supports provided to an employee with a disability from supervisors and co-workers, such as mentoring, friendship, socializing at breaks or after work, providing feedback on job performance or learning a new skill together. These natural supports are particularly effective as they enhance the social integration of the employee with a disability with his or her co-workers and supervisor. In addition, natural supports are more permanent, part of the workplace and more readily available than paid job coaches, thereby facilitating long-term job retention.

O

Occupational illnesses and injuries: The definition of occupational injury used by the Annual Survey of Occupational Illnesses and Injuries (ASOII) includes any injury (such as a cut, fracture, sprain, etc.) that results from a work accident or from exposure involving a single incident in the work environment. Occupational illness is any abnormal condition, acute or chronic illness, disease, or disorder (other than occupational injury) caused by exposure to environmental factors (inhalation, absorption, ingestion, or direct contact).

P

Partially sighted:  A term used when describing an individual with a visual impairment that indicates that some type of visual problem has resulted in a need for special services.

Phonation: The utterance of vocal sounds: the voice produced in the larynx or “voice box”.

Physical Disorders: Bodily impairments that interfere with an individual’s mobility, coordination, communication, learning, relationships, and/or personal adjustment.

Pre-existing conditions provision: A health insurance policy provision which states that until the insured has been covered under the policy for a certain period, the insurer will not pay benefits for any injury, sickness, or health condition which occurred or manifested itself before the policy was issued and, generally, which was not disclosed on the application.

Provider: Person or organization rendering services.

Psychosocial (development): The psychological development of a person in relation to his or her social environment. Includes the formation and growth of two-way relationships with significant persons in their life, and the way in which one socially responds to the surrounding environment.

Q

QRC: Qualified Rehab Consultant.  A counselor licensed by the state to provide guidance, and follow along services for a Workers Compensation Claim.  

Qualified: 1) When a person has met State approved or recognized certification, licensing, registration, or other comparable requirements that apply to the area in which the person is providing a service. 2) A person with a disability who: (a) with reasonable accommodation (b) with respect to services, meets the essential eligibility requirements for receiving the services in question.

R

Range of Motion: The range measured in degrees of a circle through which a joint can be moved.

Reasonable Accommodation: (1) Modification or adjustment to a job application process that enables a qualified applicant with a disability to be considered for the position the applicant desires; (2) modifications or adjustments to the work environment, or to the manner or circumstances under which the position held or desired is customarily performed, that enables qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of that position; or (3) modifications or adjustments that enable a covered entity’s employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by its other similarly situated employees without disabilities.

RFP:  Request for Proposal.  The document in the contracting process that explains conditions for bids from outside vendors and service providers. 

S

Sequencing: 1) As in memory; storage and retrieval of information requiring a specified order of input and recall; i.e., counting, days of week, months of the year.  2) Knowing and carrying through procedures in a particular order.

Sign Language: A form of manual communication in which words and concepts are represented by hand positions, finger spelling, body language, and facial expressions. Sign language includes both American Sign Language (ASL) and signing Exact English.

SPMI: Severe and Persistent Mental Illness. 

SSDI: Social Security Disability Insurance authorized under Title II of the Social Security Act.

SSI:  Supplemental Security Income program authorized under Title XVI of the Social Security Act.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI): A federal Title XVI income maintenance program administered by the Social Security Administration. To be eligible you must meet certain financial and income criteria and be over 65 years of age, blind or disabled.  If the person is eligible, they will receive a monthly check, and become automatically eligible for the Medicaid insurance program. Because of meeting the income limits, individuals are usually eligible for other types of assistance through the Department of Social Services (food stamps, energy assistance, etc.).

Supported Employment: 1) An employment option that facilitates competitive work in integrated work settings for individuals with the most severe disabilities (i.e., psychiatric, mental retardation, significant learning disabilities, traumatic brain injury) for whom competitive employment has not traditionally occurred, and who, because of the nature and severity of their disability, need ongoing support services in order to perform their job. Supported employment provides assistance such as job coaches, transportation, assistive technology, specialized job training and individually tailored supervision.  2) Vocational training and ongoing support provided to an individual who is working at an integrated job site in the community. 

T

TABE:  Test for Basic Adult Education.

Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) or Teletypewriter (TTY): An electronic keyboard device that sends, receives, and prints typed messages over the telephone lines so that individuals with a hearing impairment can communicate over the telephone.  A telephone number followed by TDD means that an agency or company (or other person who is deaf) has a device for communicating electronically with other deaf individuals.

Telephone amplifier: A device that attaches to an individuals’ phone and makes the voice they hear louder.

Transitional services: A coordinated set of activities for a individual, designed within an outcome oriented process, which promotes movement into integrated employment (including supported employment), postsecondary education, vocational training, continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, and/or community participation. These activities shall: (a) be based upon the individual’s needs; (b) take into account the individuals’ preferences and interests; and (c) include, but not be limited to, instruction in community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives, and when appropriate, the acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation and services.

Trial work period (TWP): 1) A period of time in which an individual who is eligible for SSDI has the opportunity to test sustained work ability.  It begins with the month of entitlement; however, it cannot begin earlier than the month the application is filed.  It ends after 9 months (not necessarily consecutive) of work in which the income is over a predetermined amount per month (or over so many hours per month if self employed) by an SSDI beneficiary.  A determination of the ability to perform subtantial gainful activity is not made until after the trial work period is completed.  2) The trial work period lets the individual test their ability to work or run a business for at least 9 months and receive full SSDI benefits.  After 9 months the individual may continue working; benefits may be affected based on overall earnings.  

U

Undue Hardship: With respect to the provision of an accommodation, significant difficulty or expense incurred by a covered entity, when considered in light of certain factors. These factors include the nature and cost of the accommodation in relationship to the size, resources, nature, and structure of the employer’s operation. Where the facility making the accommodation is part of a larger entity, the structure and overall resources of the larger organization would be considered, as well as the financial and administrative relationship of the employing facility to the larger organization.

V

Vocational Program: A planned sequence of training, instruction, courses, services, or activities designed to meet an individuals’ occupational objective.

Vocational Rehabilitation: Programs designed to assist individuals with disabilities to obtain or maintain gainful employment.

Voice Disorder: Types of speech impairments or abnormalities characterized by either an inappropriate pitch (too high, too low, never changing or interrupted by breaks); loudness (too loud or not loud enough); or quality (harsh, hoarse, breathy, or nasal) of the speech presentation itself.

W

WFC: Workforce Center.

WIA: Workforce Investment Act of 1998 rewrites current federal statutes regarding training, adult education and literacy, vocational rehabilitation; streamlined and more flexible components of workforce development.

X

Y

Z